Overview

The JP seeks to strengthen the rule of law in Guatemala by improving safety and reducing conflict. Areas of intervention were Guatemala City and Cotzumalguapa towns of Santa Lucia, Coban and Chiquimula. Its main achievement is having strengthened the capacity of public institutions at the national and local levels, together with the institutionalization of preventive approaches to address insecurity, violence and social conflict. This was done through the improvement of the existing legal and political frameworks to help strengthen the rule of law, decentralization, citizen participation and inter-institutional coordination, (Outcome 1) and through capacity building, both at national and local level, for conflict prevention to address both causes and manifestations of social violence.

The programme focused on and contributed to key policy instruments such as the Framework Law on National Security and contributed to the process of formulation and approval of the National Security Policy. It also contributed to the formulation of the National Youth Policy 2012-2020 for prevention of conflict and social violence, and the formulation of the National Policy on Prevention of Violence. Lastly, together with the Ministry of Interior, Education and Public Health and Social Welfare, the JP supported in the implementation of the National Policy for the Promotion and Integral Development of Women and Equal Opportunities Plan (2008-2023) and the National Plan for the Prevention and Eradication of Violence and Violence Against Women (2004 to 2014).

The JP activities sought to strengthen institutions at national and local levels in three pilot municipalities where it contributed to the implementation of a model for community prevention of violence led by the Ministry of Interior. The model is a tool to guide agency interventions led by multisectorial integrated roundtables, involving local and institutional actors of civil society, led by municipalities through the Prevention municipal commissions, which incorporate new collective responsibilities towards prevention.

The JP was able to raise National funds for certain JP components (e.g., National Security System) and international donors were identified to give continuity to the JP (e.g., Permanent Dialogue National System or National Institute of Strategic Studies).

Outcome 1:

Legal framework improved to prevent social violence and consolidate peace.

Outcome Achievements:

Design and installation of an integrated information platform that allows for mapping of risks and Early Warning System for the Ministry of Interior.

Supported the implementation of the observatories for homicides.

Development and implementation of a guide to address gender within police training.

Development of police protocol to addressing gender based violence, together with the promotion of a legal framework for the treatment and punishment of all forms of violence against women.

In some instances the JP provided equipment to enhance technical and institutional operability.

Outcome 2:

Capacity building at national and local level for conflict prevention to address both causes and manifestations of social violence.

Outcome Achievements:

At the local level, the JP has strengthened the three pilot municipalities (Coban, Chiquimula and St. Lucia Cotzumalguapa) through the promotion of social participation in the form of Municipal Commissions for Prevention (Comisiones Municipales de Prevención or COMUPREs, previously known as Municipal Comissions for Security), and Multisectorial Roundtables, which include the participation of both government agencies and civil society. The National Permanent Dialogue System strengthened these through training and the development of methodologies for analysis and conflict transformation.

The Ministry of Social Communication of the Presidency supported the formation of social communicators and the development of social communication proposals for building a culture of peace, as well as youth leadership training for the prevention of violence, through info-activism and sports activities.

The Ministry of the Interior (MINGOB) supported the implementation of municipal observatories for violence prevention

The Presidential Human Rights Commission (COPREDEH) systematized coordination methodologies for the analysis and management of conflict mediation and provided advice on the implementation of approaches to human rights, gender and ethnic-cultural institutions and communities

The JP supported the installation of situation rooms in each of the twenty-two departments of the republic, where, based on information updated in real time, decisions are made for prevention of violence and conflict management. These facilities operate under the responsibility of the Departmental Governor with participation from the different governmental agencies.

The Ministry of Education implemented two strategies: Comprehensive Sexual Education and Prevention of Violence, and Violence Prevention and Building Citizenship.

Maya TV conducted intercultural television programming in Mayan languages? on issues related to culture of peace and violence prevention and management of social conflict

The National Civil Police has developed a crime prevention strategy through talks with student and youth.

Best practices:

Municipal Commissions Prevention have played an important role for the promotion of prevention strategies aimed at reducing violence in conflicts at local level. Theses have designed, implemented and validated a response model supported by the municipal councils, while creating opportunities for inter-institutional dialogue and citizen participation in the Multisectorial roundtables. Agreements between key institutions were signed to ensure JP sustainability.

Community prevention plans have enabled an integrated approach for short, medium and long term action.

National funds raised for certain JP components (e.g., National Security System) and international donors have been identified to give continuity to the JP (e.g., Permanent Dialogue National System or National Institute of Strategic Studies).

The roundtables allowed for multisectorial coordination and address inter-institutional processes in a comprehensive manner.

The JP has strengthened the model for community prevention of violence, articulating links between the Deputy Director Police Crime Prevention and the local level through the multisectorial roundtables through specific policies, plans and actions adapted to the reality and needs of each municipality.

Lessons learned:

Coordination mechanisms that strongly involve key local stakeholders mitigate the risk of high staff turnover and delays in implementation.

Constant capacity building in key local counterparts is crucial to ensure JP ownership and smooth implementation.

The process of strategic planning can improve the prevention approach, strengthen community relations and social participation and police reform by articulating objectives, priorities and strategies. The incorporation of performance indicators focused on measurable outcomes and impacts would strengthen impact.

Participating Organizations are required to submit final year-end expenditures by April 30 in the following year; Interim expenditure figures are submitted on a voluntary basis and therefore current year figures are not final until the year-end expenditures have been submitted.